Costa will be missed - Hughes

The 28-year-old Brazil-born Spain international joined the Blues from Atletico in July 2014, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances.

And after months of acrimony, claim and counter claim, Costa has been granted his wish after the Blues and Atletico agreed a fee reported to be in the region of £58million.

"It's a shame from a football fans' point of view. It's a loss to the Premier League,” Hughes told reporters.

I used to enjoy watching him play because he had an edge to him and the reaction of other players to him was really interesting.

"He's a top player and the Premier League should have top players playing in it.

"Whatever happened or why it happened, maybe both sides should have got together and got a real positive out of it. But as it is, he's left Chelsea and left the Premier League, which is a shame.”

Stoke facing defensive crisis

11:00: Stoke are in the midsts of a defensive crisis ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Premier League champions Chelsea.

Mark Hughes has one central defender at his disposal with Ryan Shawcross, Geoff Cameron, Kurt Zouma and Kevin Wimmer all unavailable.

Hughes said: "We're struggling a little bit defensively. Ryan won't be available. Geoff Cameron won't be available and Kurt Zouma isn't available. There's a major doubt on Kevin Wimmer - he's touch-and-go and we'll have to see how he is this morning.

"Obviously if you have three or four injuries in the same position you haven't got depth. That's where we find ourselves and it's coincided with the fact we can't play Kurt Zouma. We're a little bit stretched, to say the least."

Chelsea predicted team to face Stoke

Thu, September 21, 2017

Express Sport brings you our predicted Chelsea team for their clash with Stoke

Costa: I don’t hate Conte

10:00: Diego Costa insists he holds no bitterness towards Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as he gets set to complete his move to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea confirmed that they had agreed to sell Costa back to Atletico for a fee believed to be around £50million.

Costa is due to arrive in Madrid later today for a medical and an announcement is expected over the weekend.

The 28-year-old's career at Chelsea was ended via text message in the summer when Conte told the striker he was surplus to requirements.

And speaking before boarding a flight to Spain, Costa stressed he was not upset at the way Conte had treated him.

He told Splash News: "There's nothing of the sort there, I'm not upset with anybody. I have no bitterness towards anyone. Everything is cool."

He then sent a message to Chelsea supporters saying: "Everybody knows how much I love the fans."

Abraham commits to England

08:35: Tammy Abraham has underlined his commitment to having an international career with England.

Reports suggested the Nigeria Football Federation is hopeful of persuading the England Under-21 international, who qualifies for the African nation through his father, to switch countries.

But the Swansea striker, on loan from Chelsea, is adamant England are the country for him.

In a statement, Abraham said: "Contrary to reports in the media today I would like to clarify that I have not agreed to switch my national team allegiance.

"I can confirm I met the President of the NFF after our last game against Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday given he is a friend of my father.

"However, any suggestion that I have made a decision to change my international representation is incorrect and wide of the mark. I have informed The FA that I remain available for selection for England."

Costa > Morata, according to Neville

08:30: Phil Neville says he would rather have Diego Costa over Alvaro Morata at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte signed Morata from Real Madrid for a club-record £70million to try and fill the void left by the 20-goal striker, who helped them win the Premier League title last season.

But Neville would prefer to have Costa over Morata at Chelsea.

“I’d rather have Costa than Morata in my team to be honest with you. Now at this moment in time I think he is better suited to the English game,” Neville told Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“Morata has got great potential, but I think Costa is someone that if you as an opposition manager you’d rather be facing Morata than Costa.”